Cylinder lock



J. D. QUILLEN CYLINDER LOCK March 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deo.17, 1954 JNVENTOR. do /7r7 D. Qu//e/l J. D. QUILLEN CYLINDER LOCK March27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fj led Dec. 17, 1954 INVENTOR. doh/7 D.@UH/@f7 J. D. QUILLEN CYLINDER LOCK March 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Dec. 17, 1954 United States Patent O CYLINDER LOCK John D.Quillen, San Leandro, Calif.

Application December 17, 1954, Serial No. 475,943

6 Claims. (Cl. 711-383) The present invention relates to locks having aplug and a barrel with movable tumblers and pins connecting anddisconnecting the cylinder end of the barrel.

The primary object of the present invention is to pro* vide a newcylinder lock which is universally operated from the unlocked positionto a locked position by any one of a number of keys provided and may notbe operated from the locked position to the unlocked position by anyother key.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock which isoperated in cycles, a cycle being from the unlocked position to a lockedposition, and from the locked position to the unlocked position, whichcycle is controlled by a single one of any number of keys.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lock and key`system having universal application for use in public locker systems,parking meter systems, industrial uses, such as tool checking, timeclock operation, and other applications using a plurality of locks orkey operated recorders, key operated mechanisms, and the like, usingindividual keys.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a lock andkey system in which a single key can lock any number of locks which maybe automatically reset to the unlocked position or manually reset to theunlocked position.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lock whichmay. not be operated by under-keying or over-keying. A still furtherobject of the present invention is to provide a cylinder lock of sturdyand simple construction, having a minimum of parts and one which may bemanufactured in quantities from the same number of parts and the samearrangement of those parts without setting individual locks for anyparticular key, the keys themselves having the diierences whichdistinguish one from the other and each being operable in all of thelocks.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in connectionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front View in elevation of the face -of the lock,

Figure 2 is a rear view in elevation of the rear of the lock,

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a key for use in the lock of thepresent invention,

Figure 4 is a top view in elevation,

Figure 5 is a side view in cross-section on line 5 5 of Figure 6,

Figure 6 is an end view in cross-section on line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is an undeveloped view of two of the slide elements of thepresent invention,

Figure 8 is an exploded view in perspective of the elements of theinvention,

Figure 9 is another exploded view of other elements,

Figure 10v is a schematic view showing the condition of the elementswhile in unlocked condition,

Figure 11 is another schematic view showing a condition of being keyedand locked,

Figure 12 shows the condition of being locked with key removed,

Figure 13 shows the condition of being under-keyed and still locked, and

Figure 14 shows the condition of being over-keyed and still locked.

Referring in greater detaii to the drawing in which like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, the present inventionconsists of a lock having a barrel 10 formed with a tumbler pin housing11 on its upper side.

Axially positioned within the barrel 10 is a plug 12 and disposedbetween the plug 12 and the barrel 10 is a plurality of concentricslides or tumblers 13, here shown as four in number concentrically andfour in number side by side about the plug 12.

The slides or tumblers 13 are assembled in series of pairs as seen bestin Figures 7 and 8 and are formed with diametrically opposed holes 14,half-grooves 15, and elongated recesses 16 which, when each pair is putin side-byside relation form another hole as indicated by the referencenumeral 16 in Figure 8.

A pair of pins 17, secured by their one ends to the plug 12 andprojecting by their other ends through each of the half-grooves 15 willbe seen to engage the tumblers 13 at each end of the grooves formed bythe half-grooves 15 and permit the tumblers 13 to rotate on the plug 12for a rotational movement of Referring to Figures 4, 8, and 9, the plug12 is formed with diametrically opposed holes 18, one for each of theactuating pins 19 and 20 which extend transversely for contractile andextensile movement and are connected together at their inner ends by thespring 21 by means of which they are biased toward each other. Thetumbler pin housing 11 is formed with a plurality of apertures 22 inwhich are slidable one of each the tumbler pins 23, each one of which isformed with a notch 24. A bore 25 is longitudinally arranged through thehousing 11 and into which extends a at sided pin 26 about which rotatefor pivotal movement the dogs 27, 28, 29, and 311, each of which bearagainst the upper ends of the tumbler pins 23, also pivotally connectedto the pin 26 is a latch dog 31 which engages the latch 32 at its upperend.

A plate 33 having ngers 34 is formed from resilient metal, or the like,and biases each of the dogs 27 to 31 to the downward position. Bolts 35secure the plate 33 to the housing 11. A U-shaped member 36 has legs 37and 33 extending in slots 39' formed in the barrel 10 each -of themextending through the grooves formed by the halfgrooves 15 in the rings13. Bolts 40 secure the U-shaped member 36 to the side of the barrel 10.

The plug 12 is formed with a reduced portion 41 which projects throughthe nut 42, having the slots 43. A coil spring 44, formed of flat springsteel, is provided with a leg 45 at it-s outer end which projects intothe slots 43 and into one of the slots 46 in the barrel 10.

The other leg 47 of the spring 44 is received into the slot 48 in theend of the reduced portion 41. Tapped holes 49 receive the bolts 50which secure the latch 32 to the end of the plug 12.

A set screw 51, together with the spring 52 bears against the end of thelatch dog 31 and restrains the movement of the latch 32. Each of thedogs 27 to 30 and the latch dog 31 has inwardly projecting bossesindicated by the reference numeral 53 which bear against the flat sideof the pin 26. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the pin 26 projects from therear face of the assembled lock.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the separate and con centric tumblers 13are indicated by the reference numei-als 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D.

tions.

In the assembly of the lock, the spring 44 is provided with sutlicienttension to bias the latch and the barrel l2 to the position indicated inFigure 6. This will permit the counterclockwise movement of the plug, asseen from the front and indicated by the arrow in Figure 1.

A key, shown in Figure 3, is provided with complemental configurationsindicated by the reference numeral 55.

Referring to Figures 1G to 14, inclusive, the operation of the lock isshown schematically. The lirst, Figure 10, shows an undeveloped view ofone of the tumblers 13 in superimposed position over tumblers 13A, 13B,3C and 13D. Straight lines indicate an edge view of each of the tumblers13A to 13D, and the tumbler pins are indicated by the reference numeral2.3. The actuating ins are 19 and Ztl". The plug is indicated by thepartially shaded portion 12.

in Figure the condition in which the lock is unlocked is shown, the pins17 being represented by the semicircular bodies 17 and are shown locatedat one end of the groove formed by a half-groove as indicated by thereference numeral 15".

The stop means, consisting of one of the legs 37 or 38 is indicated bythe reference numeral 37. in Figure 10 the tumbler pin 23 is showntraversing one of the diametrically opposed holes in the tumblers 13A to13D, and is entered into the hole 13 in the plug 12.

In Figure 11, a key, as indicated by the reference numeral 54, in Figure3, having a configuration 55, has been inserted in the key slot 56 inthe plug 12 and has raised the actuating pins 19 and 20', the formerbearing against the lower ends of the tumbler pin 23 to eject it fromtwo of the tumblers 13C and 13D, but still entered in the holes 14 ofthe tumblers 13A and 13B.

The plug 12', in this figure, has been rotated 180 counter-clockwise inthe direction of the arrows shown in Figure 11, the pins being engagedin the ends of the grooves 15" to carry each of the tumblers 13C and 13Dfor rotation with the plug.

Referring to Figure l2, a condition is shown in which the lock has beenlocked and the key withdrawn, permitting the associated spring 21 (notshow-n) to Withdraw the actuating pins 1.9' and 20', permitting thetumbler pin 23 to penetrate the respective ones of the holes 14 or 16 inthose tumblers which have been rotated, and also penetrating the hole 1Sin the plug l2.

Referring to Figure 13, the condition of under-keying is shown in whicha key has raised the actuating pins 19 and 26', to where they havepushed the tumbler pin 23 out of the tumbler 13D but still engage in theholes of the tumblers 13A, 113B, and 13C. in this position the tumblerEC is unable to move in the irection indicated by the arrow, due to itsengagement by the tumbler pin 23', the pin 17 being at the end or" thegroove and being prevented from moving the tumbler' 13C because of itsabutment or engagement by the tumbler pin 2.3.

ln Figure 14 the condition of over-keying is shown in which key hasraised the actuating pins 19 and 20 to a position where the tumbler pin23 has been ejected from the tumblers 13B, 13C and 13D, while still inengagement with the tumbler 13A. in this position, movement in thedirection of the arrow is prevented by the abutment of the end of thegroove 15" with the leg 37 which forms the stop means. The dotted lineindicated by the reference numeral 54 indicates that each of the pins1-7 are connected with vthe plug 12.

ln operation, the locks of the present invention are all manufacturedidentically, and have no set combinar1`he keys have differentcongurations and operate to set up ditlerent combinations of conditionsin which the actuating pins have engaged withfone or more of thetumblers 13. After a key has beeninserted and the actuating pins havepushed the tumbler pins outwardly, the plug and those tumblers i3 whichare now engaged by the actuating pins may be rotated 180counter-clockwise to a position at which the key is removed. At thislock combination set position, the tumbler pins 23 drop into the otherof the diametrically arranged holes 14 or 16 and into the opposite endsof the holes 13 in the plug i2.. This locks the plug against movementwith respect to the barrel i9. Any other key which enters the lock, ifit has not the right combination or conguration will fail to raise thetumbler pins 23 to the proper height to release the right ones of thetumblers 13 for rotative movement to the original or lock combinationunset position. The stop means formed by the legs 37 or 38 engage thepins 17 at one end of the movement of the plug 12 and engage the ends ofthe grooves formed by the half-grooves 15 in each of the rings 13 at theother end.

It will be seen, therefore, that all of the objects of the presentinvention may be accomplished by the structure and assembly of thepresent invention as heretofore described.

The pin 26 may be rotated so that the shoulders 53 of each of the dogs27 to 31 will engage with the flat side of the pin 26 to lift each ofthe dogs at which point the spring 4d will rotate the plug 12 and any ofthe displaced tumblers 13 back to the original lock combination insetposition. This automatic resetting feature of the present inventionpermits the lock to be used for timing devices, such as parking meters,it being understood that other spring means would be provided Controlledby a timing element to rotate the shaft 26 to the resetting position.

Other uses for the invention will be obvious, such as an industrial usewhere special tools are kept under lock and key, possibly within smallcompartments or lockers, and all of the tools being made available to anumber of individuals each provided with a different key by means ofwhich any one compartment could be opened by the operation of the lockof the present invention.

Other uses for lthe invention will be obvious. Clubs and .organizationsmay provide themselves with rooms or lockers for many purposes andprovide each of the ac credited members with a key. A member would usethe room or locker, locking it with one of the locks of the presentinvention and no other Ause could be made of it until Stich time as thesame key was inserted within the lock to move it to the unlockingposition.

While a single embodiment of the present invention has been hereillustrated and described, it is believed that other embodiments may bemade and practiced Within the scope of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock comprising a barrel, a plug provided with a slot for receivinga coniigurated key supported in said barrel for rotative movement, agroup of tumblers supported in said barrel for individual rotativemovement, means carried by said plug operable by any one of theconfigurations of a key when inserted in the key slot in said plug Vtoselectively connect one or more of said tumblers to said plug forrotative movement with said plug to thereby Vcause the connectedtumblers to be shifted from a lock combination unset position to a lockcombination set position, and cooperating lock means on said barrel,said plug and said tumblers when in the aforesaid lock combination setposition operable to resist release upon the insertion in the key slotof said Vplug of a different congurated key than the key employed foreiecting the movement to the lock combination set position and beingreleasable from the latter named set position only upon employmentof thelast mentioned key.

2. A lock comprising a barrel, a plug provided with a slot for receivinga conligurated key supported in said barrel for rotative movement, a'group of tumblers supported in said barrel for individual rotativemovement, means carried by said plug operable yby .any one of theconfigurations of a -key when inserted in the key slot in said plug toselectively connectone or more of said tumblers to said plug ,forrotative movement with said plug to thereby cause the connected tumblersto be shifted from a lock combination unset position to a lockcombination set position, cooperating lock means on said barrel, saidplug and said tumblers when in the aforesaid lock combination setposition operable to resist release upon the insertion in the key slotof said plug of a different coniigurated key than the key employed foreecting the movement to the lock combination set position and beingreleasable from the latter named set position only upon employment ofthe last mentioned key, and said cooperating lock means including meanscarried by said barrel operable to lock said plug in either the lockcombination inset position or in the lock combination set position, thelast named means being releasable by said tumbler connecting means whenthe latter is engaged by a key inserted in the key slot in said plug.

3. A lock comprising a barrel, a group of tumblers arranged inconcentric relation disposed within said barrel, a spring biased tumblerpin carried by said barrel and normally extending slidably through saidgroup of tumblers, a plug provided with a slot for receiving a contigurated key extending loosely through the innermost one of said groupof tumblers and rotatable by a key received in said slot from a lockcombination unset position to a lock combination set position, actuatingpin means interiorly of and connected to said plug for transversecontractile and extensile movement, said actuating pin means beingoperable by any one of the coniigurations of a key when inserted in saidslot to selectively release one or more of said tumblers correspondingto the height of such one of the key configurations from said tumblerpin and attach the released tumblers for rotational move ment with saidplug to the lock combination set position, and cooperating lock means onsaid barrel, said plug and said tumblers operable when in the aforesaidlock combination set position to resist release upon insertion in thekey slot of said plug of a diiferent contigurated key than the keyemployed for effecting the movement to the lock combination set positionand being releasable from the latter named set position only upon theemployment of the last-mentioned key.

4. A lock comprising a barrel, a group of tumblers arranged inconcentric relation disposed within said barrel, a spring biased tumblerpin carried by said barrel and normally extending slidably through saidgroup of tumblers, a plug provided with a slot for receiving acongurated key extending loosely through the innermost .one of saidgroup of tumblers and rotatable by a key received in said slot from alock combination unset position to a lock combination set position,actuating piu means interiorly of and connected to said plug fortransverse contractile and extensile movement, said actuating pin meansbeing operable by any one of the configurations of a key when insertedin said slot to selectively release one or more of said tumblerscorresponding to the height of such one of the key configurations fromsaid tumbler pin and attach the released tumblers for rotationalmovement with said plug to the lock combination set position, andcooperating lock means on said barrel, said plug and said tumblers, saidcooperating lock means embodying a pin carried by said plug and movablethrough an arcuate slot formed in adjacent tumblers, operable when inthe aforesaid lock combination set position to resist release uponinsertion in the key slot of said plug of a different conigurated keythan the key employed for effecting the movement to the lock combinationset position and being releasable from the latter named set positiononly upon the employment of the last-mentioned key.

5. A lock comprising a barrel, a plurality of groups of tumblers eacharranged in concentric relation disposed in side by side relation withinsaid barrel, spring biased tumbler pins carried by said barrel and eachnormally extending slidably through the adjacent group of tumblers, aplug provided with a slot for receiving a conigurated key extendingloosely through the innermost ones of all of said groups of tumblers,and a plurality of actuating pin means interiorly of and each connectedto said plug for transverse contractile and extensile movements, therespective actuating pin means being operable by one or more of theconfigurations of a key when inserted in said slot to selectivelyrelease one or more of the tumblers corresponding to the heights of therespective ones of the key configurations from said tumbler pins forrotational movement with said plug to the lock combination set position,and cooperating lock means on said barrel, said plug and said tumblersoperable when in the aforesaid lock combination set position to resistrelease upon insertion in the key slot of said plug of a diterentconfigurated key than the key employed for etlecting the movement to thelock combination set position and being releasable from the latter namedset position only upon the employment of the last-mentioned key.

6. A lock comprising a barrel, a plurality of groups of tumblers eacharranged in concentric relation disposed in side by side relation withinsaid barrel, spring biased tumbler pins carried by said barrel and eachnormally extending slidably through the adjacent group of tumblers, aplug provided with a slot for receiving a congurated key lextendingloosely through the innermost ones of all of said groups of tumblers,and a plurality of actuating pin means interiorly of and each connectedto said plug for transverse contractile and extensile movements, therespective actuating pin means being operable by one or more of theconiigurations of a key when inserted in said slot to selectivelyrelease one or more of the tumblers corresponding to the heights of therespective ones of the key coniigurations from said tumbler pins forrotational movement with said plug to the lock combination set position,and cooperating lock means on said barrel, said plug and said tumblers,said cooperating lock means embodying pins carried by said plug and eachbeing movable through respective ones of a plurality of slots formed oneeach in each of said tumblers of each group operable when in theaforesaid lock combination set position to resist release upon insertionin the key slot of said plug of a different configurated key than thekey employed for eiecting the movement to the lock combination setposition and being releasable from the latter named set position onlyupon the employment of the last-mentioned key. l

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,178Taylor Nov. l2, 1889 591,439 Voight Oct. 12, 1897 2,045,905 Futran June30, 1936 2,219,866 Futran Oct. 29, 1940

